The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-10-20
TO THEIR LAST CAMPING
GROUND

odJo iti( \LdIlOLlC CJCHI(IS.
: We do not deem it out of plac
here, to reproduce the beautiful word
SO feelingly and SO eloquently expresse
by Mr.. Henry Blount, the erudite editl
of the Wilson Airyor, on the occasio
of the removal of the Confederat
dead, near that place to, Maplewoo
Cemetery. The soul of the poet
l portrayed in this beautiful tribute to tn
memory of the departed, and it shout
find a lasting remembrance in tn
heart of the living. 1t is gem of tn
purest ray. The Mirror says:
"This week the silent and steples
march of our deathless dead began
and the fetterless martyrs of the dea
"Lost Cause" were brought up il
their glory wrapped shrouds, and re
moved from the old cemetery to dear
sweet, beautiful Maplewood. Their,
was no pomp, no parade, no solemn
beat of muffled drum, no long line O
soldiers with inverted bayonets, anc
no mournful sighgn of a funeral dirgt
to mark the noiseless tramp of oul
heroic dead to their tentless camping
ground of everlasting rest. And while
there was no such demonstration O,
gllded grief and tinseled woe as above,
still a long, sad, mournful train OF
hallowed memories followed their his
torlc ashes to their last repose, and
gave new incense to their virtues IS
they dug up again from the graves of
the past those deeds of valor and
scenes of heroism which made their
fame as immortal as woman's love.
and as bright and lustrous as the star
beams that tremble in the heavens.
"And when the children-the little
lads and lassies who have sprung into
existence since the " cruel war" was
raglng-wish to know "what does all
this mean?" we respond that it means
volumes; it means that these dead
soldiers are not traitors but patriots :;
that though the cause for which they
died was lost, yet still for them was
pure and just, and had no stain to soil
their dust. They died for what they
believed was right, and DER such
lustrous deaths Treason dares not once
stamp her darkling blight. And in
thus showing our devotion so feelingly
tor the "brave Confederate dead"
and the hallowed cause in which they
died, it must not be construed into
an exhibition of disloyalty to the flag,
that now waves in glorious peace from
the snow mantled regions to the warm
nesting waves of the sun kissed waters
Of the flower fringed gulf. No, far
from it. Thank God, the cruel war
is over. The carnival of blood has
ong been ended. Even the fields
hat were torn up by breast works and |
5ashed all over with the trenches of
License, are now yielding their boun-
lful harvest to the musical clicking of
he peaceful sickle. The streams that
'nce ran red and glimmered in the
un with its crimson foam, now roll
heir crystal tides unstained to the sea.
The wild flowers whose enameled cups
we're filled with human gore, have
lrooped their heads and persisted, and
AVE been succeeded by flowers of a
brighter growth and without a blood
tain On them, for their perfumed
'oDlets are filled with the dews of
'eace, of that peace which seemeth
Ike a heavenly benediction. The
llent moon and the twinkling stars
ing their soft light down upon the
elds which once was trod by the feet
i the faithful sentinel as he paced his
onely round, but which now sleep in
ne hush OF sweet repose. The wooing
'lnds whispering of peace and recon
have SO often kissed the
'ounds the war did make, that not a
'ace IS lett on the bosom of mother
arth to tell where the bloody scenes
ere wrought. The very men who met
he toemen, and who fringe6 the many
mes of battle with fire, and wreathed
with the purling smoke of their death
ashlng rifles, have shaken hands
cross the bloody chasm, and forgot 7
lie streams of bitterness that once
lckled down its CORY deeps. From !
le ice bound regions of the north to
le vine clad bowers of the south. ]
ON the sand Rugged shores of the
tlantlc, where the splashing pillows Y
it'll ripping laughter awake the sun
cams Of morning, to the far away
opes of the Pacific where day light
sung to sleep in the lullaby of its
tides, one mighty people, '
'eplng step to the drum beat of
non, now meet under the glorious T
&c OF peace, while amid its fragrant
anches the white winged doves of
.rmony and reconciliation now sing
cir soothing strains to the memory r
the heroes slain.
" And We rejoice and Say amen, v
ousand times amen to the sweet and
GLOWING and beautiful benediction -
llch has followed the Serious sermon d
cached from the crimson pulpit of
orn wreathed war. Yes, we rejoice
at this quiet and peaceful reign of
stored fraternal relations is shed =
ng its benign influence over our l.
untry like blessing from heaven.
Il al the same time we cannot forget
e sublime heroism of those who
wed to Duty's call, and passed in q